Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Definition of absorb verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

 Oxford3000

absorb

verb
absorb pronunciation English əbˈsɔːb absorb pronunciation American əbˈsɔːrb
absorb pronunciation English əbˈzɔːb absorb pronunciation American əbˈzɔːrb
 
 

liquid/gas

1 to take in a liquid, gas or other substance from the surface or space aroundabsorb something Plants absorb oxygen.Let the rice cook until it has absorbed all the water.absorb something into something The cream is easily absorbed into the skin.
 

make part of something larger

2 [often passive] to make something smaller become part of something largerabsorb something The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.absorb something into something The surrounding small towns have been absorbed into the city.
 

information

3 absorb something to take something into the mind and learn or understand it
Synonym
take inIt's a lot of information to absorb all at once.It took me several days to absorb the fact of her death.They spent a week in Paris just absorbing the atmosphere.
 

interest somebody

4 absorb somebody to interest somebody very much so that they pay no attention to anything else
Synonym
engrossThis work had absorbed him for several years.
 

heat/light/energy

5 absorb something to take in and keep heat, light, energy, etc. instead of reflecting itBlack walls absorb a lot of heat during the day.
 

shock/impact

6 absorb something to reduce the effect of a blow, hit, etcThis tennis racket absorbs shock on impact.The bats have graphite shafts that absorb the vibration. see also shock absorber
 

money/time/changes

7 absorb something to use up a large supply of something, especially money or timeThe new proposals would absorb $80 billion of the federal budget.8 absorb something to deal with changes, effects, costs, etcThe company is unable to absorb such huge losses.